A group of rogue ninjas from the Takumi Village invades the Sand Village and kidnaps a Ninja Academy student. They seek Gaara’s powers to revive their village’s ultimate weapon. Gaara, Kankuro & Temari pursue them with no other help from the Sand Village. Meanwhile, Shikamaru assembles the Konoha 11 (excluding Tenten), and splits up into two-man teams – Shikamaru and Ino, Naruto and Lee, and Kiba and Choji. Each 2-man cell will assist one of Sand shinobi. Neji and Hinata will avoid combat and scout ahead, while Sakura & Shino act as medical support and command & control (using Shino’s bugs to pass along information).